Virginia May be First to Endorse Sneak-Ware

The state of Virginia is moving with unseemly haste toward passage of UCITA, the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act, a proposed state law that would utterly destroy the few protections now available to software customers. With the same disregard to customers’ rights that has been a hallmark of the entire UCITA process, Virginia proponents have put this travesty on a fast track, reports Infoworld’s Ed Foster.

UCITA is one of the most grossly anti-consumer measures ever proposed. If enacted by the various states, UCITA would skew the relationship between sellers and buyers of software,whether you buy software out of a box or online. It might also end up governing electronic commerce transactions in the future. The balance, already on the side of sellers, would lean much further in that direction.

If you live in Virginia, do what you can to stop this. And be ready, in whatever state you reside, to fight for your rights as a customer when this pernicious legislation arrives at your capital.


Richard Stallman: Boycott Amazon.com

Richard Stallman, the founder of the Free Software Foundation, has an issue with Amazon.com’s assertion of patent rights against Barnes & Noble’s online store. In short, Amazon has won a patent on something that should have been laughed out of the offices of the U.S. Patent and Tradmark Office (USPTO).

The patent examiners are overworked, underpaid and, in too many cases, grossly undertrained. They grant patents on “inventions” that are ridiculously obvious and should never have even been filed. The courts, meanwhile, have allowed too many of these to stand.

The system begs for abuse. Individuals and companies win absurd patents and then try to block other people from doing business or, in some cases, try to extort money from so-called violators. Congress is willfully oblivious to the damage the system will do to our economy over time.

What does this have to do with Amazon? Plenty, as I mentioned at the top. Amazon’s patent on its “one-click checkout” is beyond absurd. By suing Barnes & Noble, Amazon has shown itself to be just another monopolist wannabe. It doesn’t deserve your business.

I don’t buy Stallman’s entire argument in this matter. But on the fundamental point — Amazon’s threat to e-commerce in general — he is exactly right.

Boycott Amazon, until it drops this legal outrage.


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